Yesterday, in Campbell, CA (near San Jose), a group of boistrous protesters converged on a donut shop.
Their target, Psycho Donuts ("They're CRAZY good" says their sign) names various types of donuts after mental illnesses.
They have a small, padded cell in their store.
Additional signage announces that they're taking donuts to "the next demented level."
NAMI (National Association of the Mentally Ill) led the protest.
"Mental Illness Isn't Funny"
"We Demand Stigma Free Donuts"
stated their signs.
I went down to Campbell with a group of counter-protesters in support of Psycho Donuts. All of us counter protesters are bipolar.
The counter protests were organized by San Francisco's Gallery 560, an art gallery that features work by bipolar artists.
NAMI, along with DBSA (Depression Bi Polar Support Alliance) needs to lighten up & learn to laugh at themselves. Both organizations
have a long history of urging people to live
on disability payments, and to take meds all day long, while doing nothing with their lives.
Groups such as NAMI & DBSA, who NEVER urge peope to rehabilitate themselves, are doing far more harm that a donut shop.
As a bipolar survivor, I found Psycho Donuts to be refreshing and hilarious! I've been making light of my bipolar condition for years~~laughter is very healing.
In learning to laugh with and at myself, and in ignoring the defeatist attitudes of NAMI & DBSA, I'm doing great!
I'm working full time at work I love doing, which includes entertainment writing. Going on Disability is not even on my table.
But don't take my word for it:
here's the Psycho Donuts website:
http://www.psycho-donuts.com/
judge for yourself!
So what's NAMI going to protest next:
people eating chocolate chip cookies?
Political correctness has run amok yet again!
David Alex Nahmod
SF CA
May 2009
NY Gay Marriage will happen" at a date not certain between now and the end of the year,"
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A vote on same-sex marriage will be held "at a date not certain between now
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4 comments:
I think this place looks great! I want to be able to order online and have psycho donuts shipped to me. My daughter and I both have mental illnesses and I know she, too, would find psycho donuts funny and cool. There are more important, much more important issues to protest out there.
Thanks for posting this.
I saw a Psycho Donuts on the news last night here in NYC, as my father and I were having dinner and often watch the news together. It was a good piece in that it showed both sides of the argument.
I looked up NAMI's stigma busters as I wasn't clear as to why they were so "crazed" over donuts or the shop name Psycho Donuts. I read American Psycho, have see the movie psycho and many movies and or books since then.
NAMI Stigma busters, "They seek to educate society about the reality of mental illness and the courageous struggles faced by consumers and families every day.
I live with Bipolar 1, I'm a mental healh consumer, my Dad was watching with me, together we make up a family and we weren't turned off by this, if we lived closer we probaby would have driven by, bought a donate and said we like the artwork, but the padded cell is a bit much.
It was unclear if the owners of the donut shop and or any staff members are living with mental illness as I'd say the entire shop raises awareness to anyone who enters.
Would NAMI Stigma busters protest a Bi Polar artist's work because he/she paintings or photo's are based on what they a mental health consumer is fealing or has lived through, I hope not.
Would NAMI Stigma busters protest Andy Berhman's new T-shirt that says BIPOLAR on it, I hope not.
I did have one objection, as I stated above, the padded cell was a bit over the top. I like the shop using it's walls to display art work, the current exhibit, like the donuts don't phase me a bit, they enlighten me.
I am a nami member, name does a great job, has been advocating for mental illness 30 years now. Stigma Busters have done some good stuff, but in the case i'd have to grade it with a "D" for donuts.
Steve is like a Jewish person who turned in other Jews in Nazi Germany.
www.psychodonuts.wordpress.com
Dan. don't you think your comment is a bit over the top?
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